Bridges and landmarks across Massachusetts will be illuminated in gold on Memorial Day to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to the country.

Swampscott-based Military Friends Foundation championed the statewide tribute, known as Operation Gold Star. It was signed into law as part of the HERO Act by Gov. Maura Healey on August 8, 2024.

“Gold is representative of our Gold Star Families in the military community,” said Sarah Sweeney, the executive director of Swampscott’s Military Friends Foundation. “Our hope is that when people across the Commonwealth see the bridges lit in the gold that citizens can pause and remember not only those who have died but also the families that carry the loss with them every single day.”

The listed landmarks that will be illuminated includes the Gold Star Families Bridge in Lynn, the Zakim Bridge in Boston, Longfellow Bridge in Boston and the Burns Bridge in Shrewsbury and Worcester.

“The tribute helps bring focus back about what this Memorial Day is truly about honoring those who lost their lives in services and also those related to military service as well,” Sweeney said. 

Memorial Day is a federal holiday dedicated to honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the Armed Forces. The solemn day of remembrance is observed each year on the last Monday in May. Memorial Day is often spent visiting cemeteries and memorials to honor those who died in the line of duty.

The first national observance of what later became Memorial Day was on May 30, 1868. Then called Decoration Day, the holiday was to honor Union soldiers who had died in the Civil War. Official recognition of the holiday gradually spread across the country, with New York becoming the first state to formally recognize it in 1873. 

The Military Friends Foundation is also hosting a “Field of Heroes” tribute in front of the Swampscott Town Hall to honor the Massachusetts servicemembers who gave their lives for the nation.

The display features banners highlighting the photos and stories of fallen servicemembers. There are 367 local Massachusetts heroes who are honored, including three servicemembers from Swampscott.

“We are very humbled that the town and the veterans services continue to provide the possibility to honor the three families in Swampscott,” Sweeney said, noting Jennifer Harris, Jared Raymond and Justin Moores’ families.